Comments

yes, Im thinking of keeping my boys home they have to walk 2 miles to school , it is too cold for them to keep that up. i have one already sicky feeling from walking today to school. but will make my diciding vote in morning i suppose. so far looks like bundle up lawrence.

Ah, better have your kiddos out there, no matter what, or the school (at least P.P.) will make it an unexcused absence. (sarcasm intentional) District policy states parents have the right to make this kind of an executive decision, but damn they'll ding your kids' attendance record if you do.

WHO CARES IF YOU MISS A COUPLE DAYS OF SCHOOL DUE TO THE WEATHER I KNOW I DID,MR LASMAN MY PRINT SHOP TEACHER STILL GOT AN A+ SO WHATS THE BIG DEAL ???? TAKE THE XBOX AND PS3 FOR A COUPLE NIGHTS TO DO THE HOMEWORK.

There are 174 schools closed thus far, for the safety of the children!!!! What is wrong with Lawrence????? Not every parent has the luxury of staying home, some kids do walk. This is very sad, but nothing new. Maybe we could have had a shorter Christmas break for the kids!! This is just wrong!!!!!

I'm surprised they haven't updated the list this morning. Most schools make a call by 6:00 in the morning. I saw on the Twitter blogs there were more schools that are not having class today but LJWorld hasn't added them on an updated list as of 6:32 this morning.

The superintendents/principals/bus directors all get together, eat doughnuts, and occasionally drive a side street to see if the roads are too bad for safe travel. These advance warnings do not move them in the slightest.
I'm still up in the air about keeping my kids home for the heck of it.

It is only unexcused if you don't call. If you choose to commute 30 plus miles that is your choice not something the school district should consider when deciding if Lawrence schools should remain open.

If walking if your main form of transportation to and from school, it is completely irresponsible and unbelievable that you would not have a back-up plan for when the weather is not cooperative. This is Kansas. You can't expect the weather to be perfect every single day of the school year. A good backup plan is not the expectation that school will be cancelled. A good backup plan would involve neighbors going the same direction, school friends who will give you a ride, relatives who can help out, having a pre-arranged agreement with your boss that you will be 30 minutes late on bad weather days, etc.

School gets out early today, chances are the snow will just be starting then. We've known this was coming for several days - plan ahead, make arrangements, get up early, be responsible for yourself.

Like i said earlier,not everyone is a minivan mom that can stay at home, There are children that walk to and from school! then there are the rude minivan moms that dont even offer rides, have a heart and help people out!!!!!

We don't cover all the cancellations that KC-area news outlets cover. We basically cover school districts in Douglas County, the southern 2/3rd of Jefferson and Leavenworth County, the far eastern areas of Shawnee County and the far western reaches of Johnson County. A lot of those other school districts that are closed are in Missouri. We'll always have the school districts in our area that are closed, up as soon as possible.

Here's the deal your kid is aloud only so many excused days after that you must have a docs note for any more to be excused so on those days the weather makes you keep them home is unexcused. The fact that they are calling for the snow to start when school is getting close to getting out and I have heard it is supposed to be hard at time, and we know the plows are not going to be able to keep up it is putting kids at risk not all kids can get picked up early some ride the bus some walk so maybe the school district should have thought about that. It is ok to say hey the roads are fine the temp. is warmer than it has been in days but you know all these kids have to get home and it does not look like it is going to be all that safe then so lets think ahead.

Here is the official definition of a winter storm warning (which Douglas County is under). Since the school district will no act responsibly and is just taking a chance it won’t be bad until later, parents need to decide for themselves to have their children stay home. So if it turns out ok the naysayers will have a hay day but if it doesn’t they will just shut up. Is this a gamble the school district should take is the real question.

Winter storm warning -- A significant winter storm or hazardous winter weather is occurring, imminent, or likely, and is a threat to life and property.

The town made a concious decision to cancel all bus service, to include that for poor families with no form of transportation of their own who now have children whose only option is to walk to school. With windchills of 25-30 below, they need to make considerations for this as it is NOT safe for a kid to be walking in.

Get off your high horse about "planning for this" as well. You've obviously never worked a job where there is no option to show up late (or can leave after showing up for shift at 530 am to take your kid in), no matter how much you beg, and can't risk getting fired because your kid needs to eat. Also, when all your friends fall in the same socio-economic group (as tends to happen) do you ask the other mom that your friends with without a car to drive your kids in?

I'm still trying to figure out "your kid is aloud only so many excused days." Does this mean that they have to keep quiet on the others? Sorry, but it just struck me as funny, am guessing the writer meant allowed. I'm fortunate not to have children in school but not matter what, they were my responsibility and I had to make the decisions for my own children, not try to blame everyone else if it wasn't convenient for me. I was the one who chose to have them, not the school district.

I've been pondering including Bonner Springs. Leavenworth is definitely further afield than we'll typically go. Is there anyone out there that would look to us for Bonner Springs closures, if we included them?

You might want to have the editors include the Lansing school district (469) in your listed closures, which would fit with the Basehor-Linwood and Tongy info. I know the Lansing Current no longer does a print edition, but they are still online - thanks to John Taylor and his crew.

I remember last year or before, Lawrence closed school based on a bad weather prediction and guess what - nothing happened.
If the weather comes, tomorrow is supposed to be worse than today. I would rather the kids stay home tomorrow if windchills hit what is expected, with the blowing snow.

Did I miss something? There's not even a flake of snow on the ground yet, it is just cold. Big whoop. I think it is a waste to cancel school before anything happens. Seriously, don't the Lawrence Public Schools get plenty of needless days off as it is?

I say they should monitor the snowfall today as soon as it starts, and make the decision about tonight's activities and tomorrow by the end of the workday today. Cancelling today due to the cold when schools have been in session since Monday would be a waste.

Just wanted to give a big SARCASTIC thanks to the Superintendent...shouldn't matter if the roads this AM were OK...they definitely aren't NOW! So our children are riding on slick roads in busses. The school my child goes to has snow drifts so high by the street it's difficult for them to get in and out of private vehicles as well! Ridiculous!

Hey LJWorld staff,
Could you move Lawrence Free Methodist Church from the "Meetings and Other Activities" section to the "Churches" Section? That's where people are going to look for it. Thank you!
And YAY to Meals on Wheels. Those volunteers work hard, as does their very limited staff.

KRICHARDS SORRY BUT TOPEKA SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN CLOSED ALL WEEK THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T SEE THEM THIS IS NOT A BAD SNOW IV'E BEEN OUT PLAYING IN IT. BUT TOMOROW WITH -30 WIND CHILLS IF THEY DON'T CANCELL I WILL HOPE THAT ALL THE PRINCIPIALS ARE STANDING OUTSIDE WAITING ON ALL THE STUDENTS TO GET TO SCHOOL....YEA THAT WON'T HAPPEN.

The University of Kansas' inclement weather policy in effect as of 4 p.m. today. This means employees at work on the Lawrence campus now may depart immediately; however the Lawrence campus remains open. Overnight shift employees whose work shift begins after 4 p.m. have one extra hour to report to work. The KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park closed at 3 p.m. Updates will be posted at www.alert.ku.edu

Tonight's KU-Cornell men's basketball game at Allen Fieldhouse will be played as scheduled."

Due to the bad weather, my sidewalk is currently closed. We will post an opening date as soon as the snow stops and I am able to get my shovel started. Should the city close public transit systems you can walk in the street while passing thru my neighborhood. While I am sorry for this problem, I have no choice but to look after the safety of the pedestrians passing thru my neighborhood. Simply put, if you dont want to fall down on my sidewalk, dont walk on it while it is icy

Cancellations-everything closed except Lawrence schools. If you are a student anywhere but Lawrence, sleep in. Saw lots of kids walking today. Saw probably a 6 and 8 year old walking to New York school several blocks away. Maybe that was OK today but tomorrow those wind chills are too much. You say keep your kids at home? That would be great if you didn't have a little thing called....A JOB. Why does Lawrence never call school? Is the superintendent from Antarctica?

OK. I am officially taking back the sarcastic remark I made yesterday regarding whether Dr. Doll would close Lawrence Schools on Thursday. I see from the District website and the JW that he has already pulled the trigger on that one and schools will be closed Thursday. Though I am no fan of the district's leadership I do applaud and support this decision which I hope was driven by purdence and common sense.

WHERE IN THE WORLD DID YOU GET THE INFORMATION THAT THE STATE REOPENS AT 9:30 THURSDAY?

Here is what the state site says (no mention of Thursday at all):

Due to the winter conditions, the Governor’s Office has declared Inclement Weather starting at 3:00 pm through 11:59 PM Wednesday, 01/06/2010 for benefits eligible non-essential State of Kansas Executive Branch employees, who work in Shawnee County. As a result, all State of Kansas offices in Shawnee County will officially close at 3:00 pm this afternoon. Inclement Weather has been called.

UPDATE - Governor Mark Parkinson has declared Inclement Weather from 3:00 PM Wednesday, 01/06/2010 through 9:30 AM Thursday, 01/07/2010 for benefits eligible non-essential State of Kansas Executive Branch employees, who work in Shawnee County. If inclement Weather is declared beyond 9:30AM Thursday, 01/07/2010, another message will be posted and media will be alerted. Listen to local radio and television for additional information.

Better get the roads plowed for everyone that needs to take their kids to Target and Southwind 12 tomorrow. Noon is about the time everyone went stir crazy the day after Christmas, right? You're on the clock, plow people!!!

Py, mine is from a song I like. I use some other screen names around the web: ntaspnkasu, ikkin, xpunkrockmomx, are the main ones. So, technically 2 of 4 are mom related. Why? I don't know, it just fit at the time. But I'm interested if people even know what my first one says.

By the way, my work is listed in the cancellations. Woohoo!!! I was so planning on leaving for work early, now I'm curling up under my blankets instead!!

jaywalker - Thanks! I consider it a personal triumph. :) One can get a post deleted if it appears to be endorsing or soliciting a certain service or product. I apparently did not read the condition and terms carefully enough.

Man would the good Christians up in Iowa and Ohio laugh at you people. Can't make church because of this little peep of snow? My Lord God Jesus expects me to be at the church rain or shine, snow or no snow. I think some of you are just plain lazy.

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Amen and very well put GardenMomma!!!! I'm a "good" Kansas Christian who made the trip to church on Christmas Eve and spent time with friends and family despite the blizzard warning. However, in retrospect, I should have used more of the common sense and prudence the good Lord endowed me with to make a decision to just stay home or go straight home after church rather than be out in substantial snow or blizzard conditions. People who choose not to go to church for weather-related reasons should NOT be guilt-tripped by the "holier than thou"-crowd. Doing so is insensitive and unnecessary and does absolutely NOTHING to grow the kingdom of God and frankly makes the rest of "good" Christians look even worse than we are many times perceived by others. If I had had a church-related activity to attend this evening, I expect that it would have been cancelled and/or I would have made a PRUDENT decision to stay home and that my friends is NOT lazy by any means!!!!!! It's SMART!

Wow. What a concept Pywacket. It's interesting to think about why we choose screen names and what they reflect of us. The only other screen name I use besides this one is the name of an Irish warrior demi-goddess who went to war with King Conchobar of Ulster (and smeared him and his Red Knights) when he raped her daughter. I guess there's a bit of a "mama" there in a strange, twisted way.

p.s. When KU implements their Inclement Weather Policy, employees do NOT get paid for that hour that they open later/close early. So, they are shorted on their paychecks if they are not salaried. Thanks, KU.

Boo-hoo victoria. The policy allows you extra time to arrive or to leave early. It doesn't require that you do so. If that extra $12.50 is that important, get around and get to work on time.

I hate to say it folks, but the roads aren't that bad if you don't drive like an idiot. I did have to spend an hour and a half shoveling the drift out of my drive and off the walk this morning, but it really wasn't that bad outside except for when the wind picked up. They could have easily had school today.

You are right sunny, now someone will bitc# about not having someone to watch their kids or the fact that they are going to have to take a day off to stay home with them.

This original comment was about Lawrence not closing school. I know nothing about Wednesday, but on the television news at six thirty, the scroll showed Lawrence district 497 as being closed on Thursday. For parents who work, they have had all year to work out a contingency plan for days when school has to be cancelled.

thebcman - you got the ntaspnkasu right. It was from the dark ages of dialup on AOL, I could only have 10 letters. I still use it on so many sites.

Py, thanks for not lumping me in with everyone, I guess. I do think the first time I used this screen name was on a parenting website. Maybe that's how others got their names, and they just stuck?

My work closed! I'm not going to whine about who is watching my kids. If I'd have thought about it, I would have let some of the parents know they could bring me their kids, but honestly, I live on the opposite side of town as work, so I'm not convenient for most anyway. AND, I got to sleep in. I haven't decided to shovel yet. We need a countdown ticker for shoveling time remaining.

Whose a$$ do I rip at KU about them being open?! Somehow they CAN close the Edwards Campus, but NOT the Main Campus! Haskell: closed. Baker: closed. KU: open, but no students (and therefore few faculty), but STAFF has to show up for NOTHING. Nothing but the frostbite my wife will get walking down Mt. Oread to the parking lot.

Unless KU policy has changed recently, they do NOT dock your pay. If you are in within that extra hour and if you leave no sooner than the early hour you are given a full day's pay. So, if your check was shorted you best be talking to your department. Mine has never been shorted and I've been here awhile.

Now, if you arrive after 9 and leave before 4, you bet you get docked.

I had to stay home and use my vacation time 'cause there's no way I can get up the unplowed hill behind where I live, which is b.s. b/c as you point out every single other institution closed today! But if I had gone to work I'd have plenty to do so I think you should stop talking about KU employees "showing up for nothing."

Well, as I mentioned before, the snow problem is not a local problem as much as a federal government problem. Why hasn't Obama done anything about the snow, sidewalks, KU employees getting the shaft, schools closed and parents having to work, snow drifts in front of my favorite liquor store!!! Come on Washington get it together!!!

Mommies and daddies don't be mad with me that you have to now babysit you own runts for a few days. Remember, that my tax dollars provide you with an outlet most of the year... ( I know I know your "kids" are the future and we are paying for that...let me tell ya, the furture seems brighter when I think about the planet dying and not your snotbot leading the way)

I'm wondering if it would really kill KU to close for one day. I do not work at KU anymore, and I'm not a student anymore; however, my child goes to Hilltop daycare and every possible way to get to that daycare on Irving Hill road involves a rather steep hill. Not all of us own all terrain 4-wheel drive vehicles that can make it up those hills without getting stuck or down them being able to stop. I, for one, don't mind so much attempting to drive in this weather if it were just me in the car, but I absolutely hate having to have my 4 year old in the car ... gods forbid something did happen. While, yes, the offices at KU are open for business as phones do ring and there's always work to be done but there are other things going on at KU that do not involve students and/or employees ... one thing involves our kids. I would have a safe assumption that one of the reasons they won't close Hilltop is so that mommy and/or daddy can go to work, as many of the kids there now are children of employees. While Hilltop attendance is not mandatory, my attendance at my place of work is and I can only be excused in these situations if I have to stay home with my daughter. So not only do I get to ski down the slopes of KU, I get to trudge back up them, spinning tires ablaze, to try and get to work. I'm aware the "main" roads are fine; however, it's my neighborhood and campus that I'm worried about ...

Pywacket, I am an RN; I was trying to come up with something simple & when I thought of Popcorn (favorite snack) I realized I could try to be clever by capitalizing the RN part lol. But my real name is plain & nowhere near as fun as Polly P Connor, darn it.

"what is wrong with you wimps? There is snow on the ground and yes it is cold in January! Canceling school because it is 'cold outside' is not teaching your little wimpy bag kids a thing!"

I think when you remember that some kids could be looking at a mile or more walk each way to school the -13 wind chills might be worth considering. Its one thing for an adult to go out and brave this unusually cold weather (it usually doesn't get like this in January here), its quite another to send a 6, 7 or 8 year old out on their way to school in this. I think the district may actually get this, and that's probably why classes were cancelled today. If my kids learn anything from this, its probaby the fact that some things just aren't worth injuring or killing yourself for.